Blackadder Goes Forth

It is 1917 and the troops have "advanced no more than an asthmatic ant with some heavy shopping". Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) returns as Captain Edmund Blackadder, who tries ways and means to leave the trenches and avoid going "over the top", with hilarious results.

The show makes use of clever puns, pauses and smilies (see above) for maximum effect. Running gags include Pvt. Bladrick (Tony Robinson) telling Blackadder "I have a cunning plan" (which is always some dumb idea) and Lt. George (Hugh Laurie) who frequently makes funny exclamations like "well hurrah, with big brass knobs on top".

The show also carries a strong anti-war message, with Blackadder frequently poking fun at Field Marshal Haig's tactics, and lamenting the fruitless loss of lives. The war had descended into a battle of attrition, which meant that whoever bled out first would lose. Wave after wave of men were sent charging into no-man's land, only to be cut down by opposing machine gun fire. At the Battle of Somme, over a million lives were lost, and the British only had a gain of 2 miles to show for it.

To highlight how stupidly the war was fought; more lives were lost on the last day of WWI as compared to D-Day! And this was after the armistice had been signed, but before the ceasefire came into effect. Thus, any gains in territory made were rendered null, as the terms of armistice had already been agreed on. So why did generals still order their men into battle? According to the History Channel, one general knew that there were showers in the town to be captured, while another merely wanted his picture taken there, so that he could show off to others.

Back to the show, Blackadder manages to dodge the push for 6 episodes, but fails to avoid the inevitable. In the end, the entire cast (save the General of course) does go over the top, charging into the smoke, fate unknown. It is a most thought provoking scene, which makes this show so much more than a comedy. In fact, it was placed 16th in a list of 100 Greatest British Television Programmes in 2000.

Do check it out! The rest of the episodes can be found on youtube.


Blackadder explains how the first world war begun. He is dressed so, as he is feigning insanity so that he will be sent home